House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR)

To better understand how we can improve connectivity throughout Eastern Oregon, we recently visited Hermiston, Pendleton and Weston. We heard from folks who experience the divide every day. Local officials told us how the lack of high-speed broadband access is hurting the economy and even makes some residents less optimistic about the future. Rural health care providers told us how important telemedicine was in rural towns, and demonstrated how they use broadband to connect patients with doctors online, without patients needing to drive long distances to an office or hospital.

At our hearing with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, bipartisan members of the committee asked direct questions about Facebook sharing personal data with third-parties. Clearly, the company’s partnerships with Chinese technology companies and others should have been disclosed before Congress and the American people. The spirit of our questions about third-party access to user data should not have required technical knowledge of the legal agreements Facebook has with device manufacturers to get clear answers for the public.

[Commentary] It is clear the questions surrounding online consumer protection and data privacy go well beyond Facebook. My committee and the American people need to hear directly from the major players in the tech industry. Consumers deserve a deliberative and exhaustive examination of the digital ecosystem that has become a part of our lives. The House Commerce Committee extends an open invitation to Silicon Valley CEOs. Come and testify before our committee, explain your business model, and enlighten consumers about how your industry affects their daily lives.

[Commentary] The week of Jan 8, after President Donald Trump signed two significant executive orders on improving broadband infrastructure, members of the House Communications Subcommittee introduced four resolutions laying out our principles for broadband expansion nationwide. The resolutions include prioritizing infrastructure funding to areas that are currently unserved, easing the regulatory process, ensuring coordination among all levels of government, and establishing clear, consistent rules regardless of broadband technology.

As the FCC prepares to rightfully restore internet freedom with Title I internet rules, it’s good to know that these powerful commissions are working together to protect consumers from any unfair or anticompetitive practices. The FTC has successfully provided those essential protections for decades, and we are confident they will continue to do so. Today’s announcement from the FTC and FCC is a positive move for consumers and the internet ecosystem.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) issued the following statement after announcing committee leadership for the 115th Congress.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do this Congress when it comes to fixing our broken health care system, advancing solutions that empower consumers and small businesses, and valuing low-cost, transformative energy solutions,” said Chairman Walden. “It will be an all hands on deck effort, and I’m confident that the team we’ve assembled will put forth the hard work needed to get the job done.”

Vice Chairman of the Full Committee: Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology:Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN); Vice Chairman Leonard Lance (R-NJ)
Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection: Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH); Vice Chairman Gregg Harper (R-MS)
Subcommittee on Energy:Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI); Vice Chairman Pete Olson (R-TX)
Subcommittee on Environment: Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL); Vice Chairman David McKinley (R-WV)
Subcommittee on Health: Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX); Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations: Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA); Vice Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) welcomed four incoming Republican members to the committee. "I am thrilled to welcome our newest members to an already stellar team at the Energy and Commerce Committee. Whether it is fixing our broken health care system or unleashing the full strength of the American economy, the committee is poised to tackle some of the most important issues facing our nation. From day one, we will work tirelessly to leverage the unique strengths of our new and returning members to ensure we continue the committee’s long record of bipartisan success,” said Chairman Walden.

The new Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in alphabetical order, are:
Buddy Carter (R-GA)
Ryan Costello (R-PA)
Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Mimi Walters (R-CA)